A true symbol of Irlande, Guinness is a beer whose success spans more than 265 years. With its deep ruby hue, creamy head, sweet aroma, and notes of coffee and malt, it is appreciated worldwide. Discover 10 fascinating facts about Guinness. 

1. A 9,000-year lease: the extraordinary agreement for St. James's Gate Brewery

The story of Ireland's most celebrated brewer, Arthur Guinness, begins in 1752 when he acquires the lease of his first brewery in Leixlip. A few years later, in 1759, he discovers an abandoned brewery in Dublin, known as "St. James's Gate Brewery". Convinced of the building's potential, he signs a lease for 9,000 years in exchange for an annual rent of 45 pounds. Unprecedented! 

Today, the lease is no longer valid as the building has since been purchased by the Guinness family. However, the original lease document can be viewed at the Guinness Storehouse museum.

2. The Harp: A Symbol Shared with the State 

Both Guinness brewery and the Irish state have the harp as their official symbol. But did you know that the brewery was the first to officially register this emblem? 

In fact, Guinness brewery decided to adopt the Celtic harp as its official symbol and registered it as such on April 5, 1862. The idea? To highlight the "made in Irlande" spirit and the country's cultural values. They drew inspiration from one of the nation's treasures: the harp of Brian Boru. A few months later, the first labels bearing the famous harp were printed. 

After years of British imperial presence, the Irish state also decided, in 1922, to adopt the harp as a symbol to promote the country's cultural identity. The problem? It was the same harp as Guinness's. To avoid copyright issues, they eventually reached a compromise: the Guinness brand kept its symbol unchanged, while the government used the harp in reverse. 

3. Guinness is Neither Black Nor Brown

Contrary to popular belief and appearances, Guinness is neither black nor brown but rather a ruby red in color. Simply holding it up to the light reveals its deep red hue. This distinctive color comes from the use of highly roasted malts and roasted barley grains.

4. Guinness Takes 119.5 Seconds to Pour

Pouring a draught Guinness is not done carelessly. It must follow a precise ritual. According to the brewery, it takes exactly 119.5 seconds to serve a Guinness properly. The service protocol includes several key rules:

• The keg must be chilled to 6°C; 

• The keg must be connected to a nitrogen tap (unlike most beers which use carbon dioxide) to create a creamy head and fine bubbles that produce the famous cascading effect;

• The pour is done in 2 stages: the pint is filled to 80% and then you must wait a few seconds before filling it to the brim (the head should rise approximately half a centimeter above the glass rim).

5. Canned Guinness Contains a Floating Capsule

All canned Guinness beers feature a small white floating ball, known as the "floating widget". This capsule is filled with pressurized nitrogen and is designed to deliver the same refreshing experience as draught Guinness. When the can is opened, the widget releases its contents, creating the iconic creamy head you'd get from a tap-poured pint.

6. 912 Million Liters Sold Annually

The figures for Guinness consumption worldwide are impressive. According to brand data, more than 912 million liters of Guinness are sold globally each year. In Irlande, nearly one million pints are sold every single day. Notably, about 10% of annual production is sold during the St. Patrick's Day period in March.

7. The Irish Aren't Guinness's Biggest Consumers

As surprising as it may seem, the Irish are not the largest consumers of Guinness. That distinction goes to the British, followed by Nigerians! The Irish rank only third, followed by Americans and Cameroonians.

8. Guinness: A Staple Ingredient in Irish Cuisine

Beyond being an emblematic Irish beverage, Guinness plays a prominent role in Irish cooking. It appears in classic Irish dishes such as:

• Irish stew (Ireland's national dish): a lamb stew served with Guinness sauce;

• Guinness Pie;

• Guinness bread;

• Salmon with Guinness;

• Mussels with Guinness;

• Oysters with Guinness;

• Guinness Pudding (a creamy Guinness preparation);

• Chocolate Guinness cake...

9. Guinness Became Vegan in 2017

Following an online petition on Change.org, Guinness brewery announced in 2015 its intention to modify its ancestral recipe to make its beers compatible with a vegan diet. The reason? The beer's filtration process had used fish swim bladders (isinglass) to filter and clarify the beer. After two years of process modifications, Guinness became vegan in 2017. 

10. The Amusing Story Behind Guinness World Records

Did you know that the famous "Guinness World Records" book owes its creation to Sir Hugh Beaver, former managing director of Guinness? But what's the connection between the beer and this book? Absolutely none. 

To understand, we must go back to the 1950s when Sir Hugh Beaver, during a hunting party with guests, wondered which European bird flew the fastest. Finding no answer in existing reference materials, he had the idea of creating a book to document all world records across all domains. Thus, the Guinness World Records book was born.

Planning a trip to Irlande and want to learn more about the history of the world's most popular Irish beer? Visit the Guinness Storehouse, in Dublin, where you can discover its brewing secrets and enjoy a complimentary tasting at the end of your visit!